A San Diego physician indicted in relation to Matthew Perry’s lethal overdose entered a guilty plea on Wednesday for conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.
Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, pleaded guilty to the felony in federal court in Los Angeles, becoming the third individual to acknowledge culpability following the death of the “Friends” star last year.
Prosecutors proposed reduced charges against Chavez and two others in return for their collaboration as they pursue two individuals they consider more culpable for the overdose fatality: another physician and an alleged dealer referred to as the “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.
Chavez is released on bail pending sentencing. He has relinquished his passport and consented to forfeit his medical license, among other stipulations.
Attorney Matthew Binninger stated following Chavez’s initial court appearance on August 30 that he is “profoundly remorseful” and is “endeavoring to rectify the injustice that occurred.”
Perry’s aide, who confessed to aiding him in acquiring and administering ketamine, is collaborating with federal prosecutors, along with a Perry associate who acknowledged serving as a drug courier and intermediary.
The trio is assisting prosecutors in pursuing their primary targets: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, accused of unlawfully distributing ketamine to Perry in the month preceding his demise, and Jasveen Sangha, purportedly a dealer who provided the actor with the fatal dose.
Both individuals have entered a plea of not guilty and are awaiting trial.
Chavez acknowledged in his plea deal that he acquired ketamine from his previous clinic and from a wholesale distributor by presenting a phony prescription.
Legally, he faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail during his sentencing on April 2; but, due to his plea agreement and cooperation with prosecutors, he is expected to receive a significantly lesser sentence.
Perry was discovered deceased by his helper on October 28, 2023. The medical examiner determined that ketamine was the principal cause of death.
The actor had been utilizing the prescription through his usual physician in a legitimate yet off-label remedy for depression that has becoming more prevalent.
Perry commenced pursuing a greater quantity of ketamine than his physician would prescribe.
Approximately one month prior to the actor’s demise, he encountered Plasencia, who purportedly requested Chavez to procure the narcotic on his behalf.
“I am curious about the amount this individual will compensate,” Plasencia messaged Chavez, as stated in court documents from the prosecution.
On the same day, the two convened in Costa Mesa, situated equidistantly between Los Angeles and San Diego, and swapped a minimum of four vials of ketamine, according to the documents.
Following the sale of narcotics to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia purportedly inquired of Chavez about the possibility of continuing to provide them, aiming to establish themselves as Perry’s primary source, according to prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated on August 15 that “the physicians exploited Perry’s history of addiction during the final months of his life last year to administer ketamine in quantities they recognized as perilous.”
Perry grappled with addiction for years, originating from his tenure on “Friends,” where he emerged as one of the foremost performers of his generation in the role of Chandler Bing.
He co-starred with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s acclaimed sitcom.
